Summary

The R&D Manager - Food Service will manage technical programs, segments, and resources to support the development of food products in support of the Company business needs. 

This is an onsite position at our Innovation Center in Salisbury, MD.

The salary range for this position is $97,000.00 - $145,000.00 per year, based on experience and qualifications with annual bonus available (variable depending on performance).  

In addition to the base salary, Perdue offers a competitive benefits package, including medical/Rx, 401(k) with employer match after 1 year, critical illness, accident insurance, dental, vision, life insurance, optional group life insurance, short-term and long-term disability protection, flexible spending accounts and paid time off. 

Principal and Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with all applicable safety, regulatory, GMP requirements in lab, pilot plant and manufacturing facilities.
• Provide technical consumer/customer knowledge for assigned business segments. Partner with Marketing to understand the consumer, i.e., demographics, basics of product usage, psychology of why products are used, and the trends that impact product development.
• Support and manage strategic plans while utilizing consumer insights.
• Identify and promote the evaluation of new technologies in relation to the assigned business segment, that are relevant to the Company’s product portfolio in support of new product initiatives, cost improvements, quality improvements and technical brand maintenance.
• Manage activities and assign projects to associates to ensure effective allocation of resources with minimum guidance. Champion the NPD process. Provide resource estimates for NPD projects.
• Demonstrate proficient knowledge of the competitive landscape and how the Company fits in.
• Manage the growth and promotability of direct reports through coaching and frequent on-going performance feedback.
• Partner with Marketing, Operations and other relevant functions to establish priorities closely aligned with business needs. Maintain an updated project list of current projects being worked on for the assigned business segment.
• Serve as technical interface with cross functional partners in support of new products and improvement initiatives.
• Make educated decisions in support of managing the business segment for which the position is assigned.
• Manage or provide support in managing budgetary line items as assigned.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Food/Meat Science or related field with 7 years of related work experience. Preferred: Master’s/PhD with 10 years of related work experience.

• Experience in product development process from idea generation, bench top, scale up and commercialization. 
• Expert knowledge in poultry processing and/or related food product systems.

• Strong leadership experience as a cross-functional team player including prior supervisory and project management experience.
• Excellent communication, detail orientation and organizational skills, along with excellent analytical and presentation skills.
• Ability to translate customer/consumer needs and business objectives into innovative new product design requirements.
• Ability to travel up to 25% of the time.

Environmental Factors and Physical Requirements

• Position is mostly sedentary but may require occasional moving to other offices or buildings.
• May need to move light equipment or supplies from one place to another.
• May need to access files, supplies and equipment.
• Work activity is in an office, open-partitioned, cubicle environment.
• When in a plant environment:
  • Exposure primarily consists of wet and moist floors which include metal and plastic grating surfaces.
  • May be exposed to temperatures of 28 degrees to 100 degrees Fahrenheit with both ambient and 100% humidity.
  • May handle product 25 degrees to 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • May be exposed to noise ranges of 50 db to 110 db.
  • May be exposed to all chemicals used in poultry, food, processing facility.
  • Must wear and use protective and safety equipment required for the job as directed by the Company.

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